A puppy (or kitten) mill is a large-scale commercial dog (cat) breeding operation where profit is given priority over the well-being of the animals. We will discuss puppy mills on this page, but everything that goes for puppy mills is also applicable to kitten mills.

Illness, disease, fearful behavior and lack of socialization with humans and other animals are common characteristics of dogs from mills. Puppy mills usually house dogs in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, without adequate veterinary care, food, water and socialization. Puppy mill dogs do not get to experience treats, toys, exercise or basic grooming. To minimize waste cleanup, dogs are often kept in cages with wire flooring that injures their paws and legs, and it is not unusual for cages to be stacked up in columns. Breeder dogs at mills might spend their entire lives outdoors, exposed to the elements or crammed inside filthy structures where they never get the chance to feel the sun or a gust of fresh air on their faces.

PLEASE: Do not buy a puppy from a pet store, in fact, do not buy a puppy from any place that does not allow you to see its entire facility and meet the mother dog. This includes websites that sell pets online. Anyone can put up a great-looking website boasting the highest standards of breeding and care, but you really have no way of knowing if such businesses are what they claim. Truly responsible breeders and shelters want to meet you before selling you / adopting out to you one of their precious animals to be sure that he or she is going to a good home. (source: ASPCA)

If you would like to learn more about puppy and kitten mills, here are some websites with more information on them and on their website scams: